David Tepper approved to be new owner of Carolina Panthers

On Tuesday, the Miami-based hedge fund manager received unanimous approval to take over the franchise at the 2018 NFL Spring Owners Meeting.

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"I'm thrilled about this. It's more than fantastic," Tepper said.

While the sale will not become official until July, Tepper paid more than $2.2 billion in cash to purchase the team. Tepper previously owned a five-percent stake in the Pittsburgh Steelers, which he now has to sell.

Tepper's approval now means that the league is officially done with Panthers founding owner Jerry Richardson. Last December, Sports Illustrated reported that at least four women were paid to remain silent after allegations of workplace misconduct that included sexual harassment and the use of racial slurs. Richardson is currently still under investigation following those allegations.

Tepper was asked his plans about changing the front-office culture in Charlotte.

David Tepper (left) took the podium as the new owner of the Panthers Tuesday in Atlanta. (John Bazemore/AP)

"I don't know exactly what's there, because I haven't been there," he said. "So for me to speak about exactly what I'm going to do is almost impossible.

"But for me, I've had a business for 21 years and I believe in equality for everybody, including men and women."

"The past is the past, and the future will be that."

Tepper was also asked about a new stadium for the team and said that Charlotte is the most logical place, but added that the team needs to have some sort of presence in both of the Carolinas.